334 REPORT ON THE DISEASES OF FARM HORSES. 



astringents, as sulphuric or tannic and gallic acids, in dram doses 

 given in water; opium and catechu, kino, sulphate of iron, per- 

 chloride of iron, &c, are highly useful. When fungous tumours 

 are present, and disorganization or calculi occur, the disease is 

 incurable. 



Inflammation of the Womb, Hysteria, Metritis, &c, 

 is not uncommon in the breeding mare. It occurs from obscure 

 causes as well as from obvious habit of body or maltreatment 

 during parturition. The symptoms are excessive fever, dullness, 

 accelerated respiration and circulation, and shortly violent strain- 

 ing takes place. A discharge of a brownish or coffee coloured 

 character occurs from the external organs. The animal is uneasy 

 and often is inclined to lie down. The disease is mostly con- 

 fined to young animals, and occurs some days after parturition. 

 Peritonitis usually accompanies the affection. 



Treatment. — Hot fomentations to the loins, and afterwards 

 mustard. Laxative medicines, as aloes or linseed oil. The re- 

 peated straining will require such medicines as belladonna, 

 opium, hyoscyamus, or Fleming's aconite. Belladonna and 

 nitrate of potass will be most useful Mitigation of symptoms 

 and recovery must be met with the assistance of tonics, as in- 

 fusion of quassia and perchloride of iron, the sulphate of iron, 

 gentian, &c, &c. 



Inversion of the Womb and Vagina takes place after 

 roughly handled cases of parturition, as a result of irritation set 

 up by injuries, &c, and may also arise from excessive constipa- 

 tion at the time. 



I have seen it in young animals which have been put into 

 slings when a limb had been broken. It is sometimes incurable 

 from the difficulty of suppressing the violent efforts to strain on 

 the part of the animal, and impossibility of retaining the organ 

 in position, or probably mortification which speedily ensues. 



Treatment. — Give a dose of opium, say three or four ounces 

 of the tincture, foment the protruding parts with hot water and 

 return as carefully as possible. Somo persons afterwards place 

 a few stitches across the vulva, but this is objectionable on ac- 

 count of the irritation they produce ; others fix the animal by 

 means of large pads to the external organs and a cart breech- 

 band, which, when properly performed, is not always a bad pro- 

 ceeding towards preventing a return of the organ. Extensive 

 wounds produced during parturition often give rise to the disaster. 

 These should receive special attention so as to mitigate pain, 

 which would lead to the formidable occurrence. 



Leuchorrhcea, or the Whites, is a disease of the mucous 

 membrane of the womb of a chronic character, and occurs after 

 parturition. It is evidenced by the discharge of white odourless 

 and flaky matter from the external organs of generation. 



